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Conrad was a Polish-born English novelist. His success is even more amazing since he did not learn to speak English until he was in his 20's. Conrad's narrative style places him at the beginning of the Modernist period of literature. Amy Foster is a short story written in 1901. Yanko Goorall is a Polish immigrant on his way to America. He is shipwrecked off the English coast and because he speaks no English the people consider him to be a madman. He is stoned, beaten and imprisoned. When given a job he learns English and falls in love with Amy Foster. They marry and have a son. When Yanko falls ill and begins raving in Polish Amy is frightened and flees. Yanko was in actuality just asking for water.